The government said the control aims to prevent the spread of information that
may cause social unrest and affect national security.

The updated Computer Crime Act of Thailand stated that people accused of
defamation or posting information which damages national security could face 10
years in prison, along with a fine equivalent to 6,000 USD.

Authorised agencies have rights to close websites with contents that jeopardise
national security, social order and public moral.

Thailand is estimated to have about 47 million Facebook users, 11 million
Instagram and nine million Twitter users. The government has to date spent 3.8
million USD on enhancing online monitoring technology.

This year, local authorities also required social networks such as Facebook and
Youtube to block hundreds of accounts accused of posting information that
affects national security.-VNA